I’d never been to the botanical gardens before and they did not disappoint. Because the ceremony was a small affair, it was able to nicely fit down at the end of one of the forks in the trail. There was a big willow tree that served as the most stunning backdrop.
Rex herded me over to a younger man who there was no mistaking for Rex’s brother. They had similar features, and even the color of their hair was the same, just Nigel didn’t have any gray. He also looked like was going to be sick.
“Nigel, I want you to meet someone,” Rex said as we walked up to Nigel, who stood alone, his hands tucked in his pockets. He looked pale and kind of miserable, but I chalked that up to nerves. I know I’d be quaking in my boots if I ever got married.
“Perry, this is Nigel, my younger pain-in-the-ass brother. And Nigel, this is Perry. My boyfriend.”
I desperately tried not to swoon at those words as I reached for Nigel’s outstretched hand.
“So where’s the other half?” Rex asked, looking slightly concerned.
“Getting ready. We came together, but he wanted to keep his wedding outfit a secret so he’s changing in one of the public bathrooms.” Nigel glanced at his watch, then down the trail. The longer I looked at him, the less like a happy groom he seemed.
“Oh, there’s the officiant. Excuse me.” Nigel slipped away and both Rex and I turned to watch him go. He strode over to the man who’d shown up in a flashy suit, devoid of any religious paraphernalia, and started talking.
“Is he okay?” I leaned closer to Rex and dropped my voice to a whisper.
“I’m not sure how to answer that.” Rex slid an arm around my shoulders and we turned away from Nigel to try and give him some privacy to sort this out. I didn’t know who any of the other people in attendance were. Friends and coworkers I assumed.
“Did any of your extended family show up?” I asked but Rex was quick to shake his head.
“We’re all we’ve got.” Rex looked around like he was scanning the crowd for someone.
Rex’s expression changed when a man in a head-to-toe white suit came over, going straight past Nigel and the officiant and making a beeline for Rex.
Whatever the obvious groom was going to say died on his lips when he saw me. Recognition flashed through his face and when that was gone, disgust was in its place.
“Do you know what he is?” the bitchy groom whisper-shouted to Rex.
Rex moved closer to me like he wanted to be my human shield. “He’s my date.”
“He’s a porn star. You’re seriously dating a porn star? Get the fuck out of here.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Who the hell are you?”
“Trevor. But I’m sure Rex told you all about me in the, what, ten minutes you’ve been dating.” Trevor was a hateful little drama queen.
Looking over at Rex, I raised an eyebrow as if to sayreally? This guy?Rex didn’t respond with anything more than a wince.
“Why did you really bring a porn star to my wedding, Rex? Were you hoping I would get jealous?” Trevor glowered at Rex.
“Let’s keep this civil for the sake of my brother.”
“Your brother would actually like to know a couple things.” Nigel appeared out of nowhere, a face like a bad dream. His arms crossed over his chest. I’d yet to see Rex annoyed or mad, but I pictured him looking exactly like Nigel did in that moment.
“Why would Trevor be jealous of you?” Nigel looked at Trevor, his gaze burrowing a hole into Trevor’s not-so-carefully crafted plan.
When Trevor went as white as his suit and didn’t respond, Nigel’s gaze flicked to Rex. “Why would he be jealous? The truth, Reginald.”
“Reginald?” My head snapped to the side so fast I almost broke my neck.
“Reginald is my legal name. But Nigel couldn’t say Reginald and we tried Reg, but he just started calling me Rex. So yes, my name is technically Reginald, but I go by Rex.”
“You’re getting off topic.” Nigel folded his arms over his chest and made sure to keep some distance between himself and everyone else. “Why would my fiancé be jealous?”
“He’s likely referring to the fact that Trevor and I had a very short and inconsequential fling after Bryson and I broke up.”
Nigel’s face went through a hundred different emotions. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
